SOVIET SHOCK TROOPS DEFEATED

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22909, 4 January 1940, Page 7

SOVIET SHOCK TROOPS DEFEATED

Fresh Blow Inflicted. By Finns

"EASTERN FRONT SECURE FOR TWO MONTHS"

{totted press ASSOCIATION—COPVHIGHT.) (Received January 3, 10 p.m.) LONDON, January 3. "For military reasons the extent of the crushing Finnish victory at Kiantajarvi has been carefully screened in communiques," states the Kiantajarvi correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph." "It surpassed the Finns' terrific blow in the Suomussalmi sector) 200 miles further north. *

"It involved the destruction of a crack Russian division of 18,000 men and the capture of much war material and 700 prisoners. "Three Russian divisions participated in twin battles at Kiantajarvi and Aglajarvi. The Russians were not ill-clad, badly trained, or proletarian cannonfodder, but were wellclothed, fully-equipped shock troops. "The Finnish strata egy made monkeys of the Soviet High Command, making the eastern front secure for two months. The officers directing this tactical masterpiece have been promoted from colonel to general. The Finns are now tying the Russians jnto knots east of Aglajarvi."

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A message from Helsinki states that the Finnish triumph at Kiantajarvi, coupled with successful thrusts into Russian territory elsewhere, has relieved pressure against the Joensu-Nurmes-Oulu railway, which is most important for the transfer of Finnish reserves.

A reorganised Russian Army of 200,000, under General Stern, launched a great frontal attack on the Mannerheim Line in a blinding blizzard, but failed. A hundred thousand Finns, a third of the total Finnish Army, held the attackers at bay, in spite of the tactics of the Russians in pressing in simultaneously on both wings and the centre in the hope of preventing the Finns, transferring -reinforcements to threatened noints. Meanwhile, the Finns are moving swiftly on .the Kuolajarvi front and threaten to encircle and annihilate 16,000 Russians., . ' ' An unconfirmed report from Copenhagen says that the Finns cut off 10,000 Russians from their bases at Petsamo and Murmansk, after defeating the invaders at Nikkelby, a mining centre in the Petsamo area. Russian artillery has been pounding the Finnish lines for 36 hours with Increased intensity. The gunfire is audible in Wiipuri. All reports,; agree that the Finns so far have not yielded an inch. A large number of Russian. - wounded froze'to death in "no man's land." It is reported from Helsinki that Turku Castle was set on fire by a Russian bomber yesterday, when two were killed and four were wounded. It is still burning to-day. The castle dates from the thirteenth, century, and houses Finland's finest museum. The Finns shot down seven Russian aeroplanes. J Aeroplanes damaged 50 Finnish towns, most of them insignificant from a military .point bf view. Russian Air Raids Russian aeroplanes bombed Turku harbour. Five were killed and 20 wounded. Bombs set many houses on fire and hit the Finnish steamer Leo and damaged a Swedish steamer and two tugs. Thirty-two aeroplanes participated in a raid on Wasa. JBombs killed and wounded 30 people and destroyed many houses. 'A blizzard not only' prevented raids to-day, but forced a number of Soviet aeroplanes to land in Finnish territory. The Russians bombed Oulu last Monday. The casualties and damage are extensive.

■ A serious accident is reported on the Murmansk- railway, where a troop train crashed down an embankment, causing hundreds of but it is not certain whether '%e accident was caused by Finnish or the condition of the railway line. - A search on the Pasvik river has revealed no trace of the Russian feombs alleged to have been dropped in Norway. . Finnish hotels and restaurants have been ordered to serve simpler meals, and householders must economise in heating. Eations are still substantial.

SWEDISH VESSEL SUNK BY MINE

ESTONIAN STEAMER NOT REPORTED (Received January 3, 7.5 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, January, 2. The Swedish ship Lars Magnus Trozelli (1955 tons) was sunk by. a mine off the east coast of England. A message from Tallinn says 'that the -Estonian steamer Mina (1173 «£a»J w ith a crew of 17, bound for - «&* Sea, has not been re" posted since December 11.

NAZI HELP FOR SOVIET

Military Mission Sent

REPORTED APPEAL BY STALIN

(Received January 3, 10.30 p.m.)

LONDON, January 3. "In response to M.. Stalin's appeal, Germany has sent a military mission to Leningrad to aid the Russians against the Finns," states the Amsterdam .correspondent of the "News Chronicle." "The mission consists mainly of German officers who fought against the Russians in the Finnish war of liberation in 1918, whose inclusion Was specially requested by M. Stalin." ' . '

•The Berlin correspondent of the Copenhagen newspaper "Polltiken" states that M. Josef Stalin has asked Kerr Hitler for 200,000 German tech-

NAZIS THREATEN INTERVENTION

LONDON, January 2. . According to the Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain, Ger- . many has issuod a warning that she Might enter the RussianFinnish conflict if British soldiers appeared ,on Finnish soil or if the Allied shipment of munitions to Finland reached decisive proportions.

nicians, engineers, and specialists to reorganise Russian economic life, especially the transport system. He offers good salaries and a free hand under his personal protection. The correspondent adds: Russia is unable to carry on the campaign in Finland without immediate help from skilled workers, on whose dispatch the continuance of RussianGerman collaboration largely. depends. The only question is whether Germany can spare skilled workers. •It 'is denied .in Berlin that M. Stalin has asked for 200,000 expert engineers and technicians to- reorganise Soviet economy and ini dustry.

HITLER AND MUSSOLINI EXCHANGE GREETINGS

LONDON, January 2. The Berlin wireless announces an' exchange of New Year messages in which Herr Hitler wishes Signor 'Mussolini success in the guidance of Italy, and Signor Mussolini expresses Italy s hope tiat their peoples will together achieve their aims and sel cure their future.